Iranian Ballistic Missile Program is Threat - French Defense Minister

Paris previously offered to add the Iranian missile program to the 2015 nuclear deal, while Tehran refused to discuss the issue, stressing that its ballistic program is purely defensive in nature.

"Like President Trump, we consider Iran's ballistic activity to be a threat, and like President Trump we consider Iran's influence in the whole region a matter of major concern," said French Defense Minister Florence Parly during a meeting with her American counterpart James Mattis, adding, however, that the topics should be discussed with Tehran "without questioning Iran's compliance with the treaty and the Vienna agreement."

The statement echoed French President Emmanuel Macron remarks, who noted last year that he was not ruling out sanctions over Iran's ballistic missile program, which he described as "very worrying." Addressing the statement of the French President, Tehran has refused to start talks on the matter, stating that the program's issues are non-negotiable.

Ballistic program of the Islamic Republic was not included in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as Iranian nuclear deal in 2015. The agreement eased sanctions earlier imposed on the country in exchange for Iran ensuring the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.

After US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the agreement in May, France, as well as Russia, China, Germany, and the UK refused to pull out of the deal with Tehran, confirming their commitment to the JCPOA.

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